Doctor: Captain of sunken ferry possible identified himself as passenger

Monday, April 21, 2014 - 01:49

April 21 - A South Korean doctor who treated the disgraced captain of the South Korean ferry, says he believes Lee Joon-seok identified himself as a passenger after he was rescued by coastguards. Sarah Toms reports.

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Wrapped in a blanket, he looks just like any of the 174 passengers, fortunate enough to be rescued from the capsized South Korean ship last Wednesday.
But this is no passenger -- it is the captain of the stricken ferry, who is alleged to be one of the first to be saved.
This doctor treated many of the survivors, including the captain who abandoned his ship.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREA DOCTOR JANG KI-JOON AT JINDO KOREA HOSPITAL, WHO TREATED CAPTAIN OF THE SUNKEN SHIP, JANG KI-JOON SAYING:
"I didn't ask him directly, but I remember seeing a list stating him as a 'passenger.' I think he said so when he was questioned (about his status)."
The captain and other crew members have been arrested, charged with negligence of duty and violation of maritime law.
Hundreds of passengers are missing and presumed dead -- most of them are high school children.
Investigations are focussing on whether an earlier evacuation order could have saved lives.
As divers retrieve bodies at a faster pace, parents of the missing children sit in a gymnasium exhausted from days of grief.
A screen shows the search operation and keeps a tally of the death toll.
This man is waiting for news of his son.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 47-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN FATHER OF MISSING FERRY PASSENGER, KIM CHANG-GU, SAYING:
"Other children say "dad" but Dong-hyup had been calling me "dad!" I seem to hear that again and again."
Dong-hyup's sister is losing faith he still alive.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN SISTER OF MISSING FERRY PASSENGER, KIM HA-NA, SAYING:
"I had hope. But I have mixed feelings and a heavy heart now. Even if there is air, he wouldn't have been eating anything or drinking water for six days. I wonder if he could still be alive in this condition."
As they take turns to vent their anger and grief, they are starting to face the inevitable truth that their loved one is dead.

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